Since last year, after facing allegations of wrong-doing in his land deals, Vadra has turned into something of a political liability for the party.

RAE BARELI/NEW DELHI: Mention Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, and the residents of her constituency Rae Bareli instantly recount details of the spectacular motorcycle rally that he had organised in the run-up to the assembly elections in 2012, when he actively campaigned for the party and addressed poll meetings.

The rally organised in the villages bordering Rae Bareli and Amethi ran into trouble with the Election Commission as more than 150 bikers arrived to participate in the event which had permission for just 10 bikes. "It was a spectacle for us because there were bikes of all sizes and colours and youngsters riding them," says a resident.

Vadra's entry into the campaign did not appear quite well-timed, though, for Congress lost seven of the 10 assembly seats in the Nehru-Gandhi family bastions of Rae Bareli and Amethi Lok Sabha constituencies. Vadra may have been something of a spectacle for the local residents but since last year, after facing allegations of wrongdoing in his land deals, he has turned into something of a political liability for the party. "Wo gale ka kanta ban gaye hain, jise na nigla ja sakta hai na ugla ja sakta hai (roughly meaning that the party can like it or lump it but do little about him)," a party member says. For the Congress, which is battling public anger over a spate of scams, Vadra has only served to keep the key issue against the party alive.

A Congress leader says: "Priyankaji has been aggressively responding to the charges, but on the ground it is the workers who have to defend him. We were already dealing with the fallout of the 2G and coalgate scams, and we were arguing that the charges were more hype than substance. But how do we explain to the people about Vadra?" Another party member says it is exceedingly difficult to counter BJP's charge that Vadra converted Rs 1 lakh into Rs 300 crore in very short time.

In 2012, Vadra addressed a few meetings in Rae Bareli, where Sonia Gandhi has been contesting from since 2004. "Vadra's tour plans were different from Priyanka's then. He came for three days and spoke in a few arranged meetings," says a senior Congress leader. Vadra spoke about youth empowerment, a few local residents said. Most others, however, avoided talking about him. Although the constituency has repeatedly elected representatives of the Nehru-Gandhi family and harbours a great deal of affection for Sonia Gandhi, her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka, the residents do not appear to have warmed up to Vadra to the same extent.